* AbbVie CEO: Tax reform plan certainly will put us in a position where will be far more competitive to our foreign competitors: Conf Call

* AbbVie CEO “if we were to get tax reform where we could get better access or more cost-effective access to our offshore cash, we’re certainly going to be looking at ways to be able to appropriately deploy that cash”

* AbbVie CEO “returning cash to shareholders to reward them for their tremendous success that Humira has had and will continue to have going forward is a high priority for us”

* AbbVie CEO “oddly enough, as we continue to drive Humira and show the success with it, I think that increases that pressure”

* AbbVie CSO: “We remain confident in our program and don’t see any real read-through from the Lilly situation” when asked about Lilly’s CRL on its RA drug

* AbbVie CEO says does not anticipate any changes in Humira formulary positions in the United States in 2018

* AbbVie CEO sees that HCV patient volumes are still trending down although at a slower pace, so he thinks reaching some point of stability going forward

* AbbVie CFO says cash-on-hand at the end of 2016 was about $8.2 billion

* AbbVie CFO: “We’re incredibly encouraged that there is talk now about possibly allowing repatriation of cash in the tax-efficient manner”

* AbbVie CFO: “We think (allowing repatriation of cash) is absolutely the right thing to do, just not only for AbbVie and the industry but the country ”

* AbbVie CFO hopes that (allowing repatriation of cash) is on permanent basis versus a onetime basis; if it is onetime and without limits, co would look to take advantage Further company coverage: